Chapter 372: Beating

The three-year-old fruit trees of the Yang family produced even fewer fruits. One tree could sell for about eight kilograms, and they actually made back their investment with a profit of one thousand taels. The main reason was that the price difference between a three-year-old fruit tree and a five-year-old fruit tree was more than double. The three-year-old fruit tree was worth three taels of silver, and the Yang family bought two thousand two hundred trees and gave away more than a hundred of them. In addition, the survival rate of the Yang family's trees was high, so two thousand of them survived. They invested a total of more than eight hundred taels of silver and made a profit of more than one hundred taels.

Some people in Lizhou City followed the trend of growing apples and made money while others did not. But everyone saw the profit, so even if they did not make a profit they were happy.

Zhou Shuren also harvested the fruits. The largest number of people in Lizhou City now are fruit merchants. Zhou Shuren originally ordered three-year fruit trees. Some farmers received two to plant in the yard, and some received one. Because they planted few and the whole family took good care of them, except for those that died, basically every fruit that could be sold weighed about ten kilograms.

After deducting the money paid back to the government for the fruit trees, the people who planted two trees could have 400 coins left, and those who planted one tree could have 200 coins left. Moreover, if they paid back the money for the fruit trees this year, they would have the money from selling the fruits next year.

There was a lot of traffic in Lizhou City, waiting for all the apples to be processed.

Zhulan noticed that Zhou Shuren had lost weight again, "You've lost all the weight you gained with great difficulty."

Zhou Shuren, "Recently, Lord Chen and I have been traveling around the counties, and we have been busy checking the accounts and have lost weight. Don't you see that Lord Chen was already thin, and now he is so thin that he can't even hold up his official robes."

Zhulan rolled her eyes in her heart. Zhou Shuren could barely hold up his official robes, yet he still had the nerve to say that to others, "Now that the fruits have been sold and the pigs have been killed, you can take a good rest."

Zhou Shuren was indeed relieved. All the money that the government office had lent out was recovered, and the government office's accounts finally looked better.

Although the pigs did not grow very big, after deducting the money paid to the government, there were still more than ten pounds of pork meat left. Whether the meat was sold or kept for food, it was all earned by the people.

Zhou Shuren thought of the smiles on the people's faces and the innocent words of the children, and he also smiled, "Tomorrow the apples and pork to be sent to the capital will start on their way."

Zhu Lan sighed, "The people are really honest. Not to mention that your government office has received apples and pork from various villages, our family has been constantly busy these days, and we don't even need to buy pork at home. As a result, Steward Ding took people to various villages to give money. If they really didn't want money, they would give them food. They still didn't want money, and some people even gave them food back. There was nothing we could do. I had to persuade the people in person to accept the money and food."

Zhou Shuren also had a headache. "The officials in the government office also give money everywhere. My legs have become thinner these days."

Zhu Lan hugged Zhou Shuren's neck and narrowed her eyes. "This shows that you are a good official. The people recognize you very much. I am proud of you."

Zhou Shuren thought he was very remarkable, so he asked each village to sign a contract with the merchants, ensuring the sale of the fruit in the next few years. He also gave the vermicelli recipe to the merchants for free. The only thing they needed to do was to sign a contract and only accept sweet potatoes and potatoes from the state. He was not afraid that the people would give up growing crops and plant fruit trees.

Apples are indeed valuable, but they also involve risks. Even if there is a natural disaster such as drought, or if the fruit trees die of disease, our food supply is still secure.

Sweet potatoes are high-yield crops, and Lizhou City has been planting sweet potatoes for a long time. They are very experienced in planting sweet potatoes, and can guarantee 800 catties per mu. Even if they sell it for one cent per catty, it is still 800 coins, and they can save a lot of money after paying taxes.

And if a natural disaster really happens, we can have food to survive with sweet potatoes and potatoes.

The people of Lizhou City had experienced hunger before, so they still preferred to grow food.

Moreover, the price of fruit trees will definitely increase next year, and ordinary people will still not be able to afford it. Zhou Shuren felt more at ease thinking this way.

In the palace, the emperor was waiting for news from Lizhou City, and the prince did not leave. Well, actually, the emperor did not let the prince leave.

The person who compiled the report finally delivered the letter. The emperor read the summary at a glance, put down the letter and laughed: "Okay, okay, Lord Zhou left two guarantees for Lizhou City."

The prince had been checking the folding documents of Lizhou City a lot this year. Since the granary in Lizhou City finally had food, he heaved a sigh of relief and had been waiting for today's news.

The Emperor handed the letter to the Prince, "Take a look at it."

The prince quickly browsed through the letter. Because it was an urgent message, it took only a few days to reach the capital. The news on the letter said that all the pigs adopted by the people had been killed. The prince smiled and said, "I was worried that the people would grow apples instead of grains. I was also thinking about whether to write a letter to my father to set rules for Lizhou City. Before I wrote the letter, Lord Zhou had already considered it. Lord Zhou set up the vermicelli business in Lizhou City. In the future, Lizhou will not only be the apple state, but also the vermicelli state."

The emperor's eyes were full of smiles. This was the best news he had heard this year. In the second half of this year, Lizhou attracted a lot of merchants. With more merchants, the tax revenue was also very gratifying. When Lizhou was at its best, the tax revenue was at its lowest. This year, there was indeed something to look forward to. "Our Lord Zhou is very good at utilizing local resources."

In the past, the land in Lizhou was not fertile, and most of the crops grown were sweet potatoes. After the harvest, winter wheat was planted. Unfortunately, the yield of winter wheat was still pitifully small.

There were too many sweet potatoes but no one wanted them, and we couldn't collect much tax. Now Zhou Shuren has solved the problem based on the land. I have a really good vision.

The prince no longer wore his mask. It was indeed a great joy. "The apples and pork that Lord Zhou sent to the capital should be on their way."

The emperor stroked his beard and said, "This year's rewards for the ministers in the court have been prepared. Everyone will get a share."

The prince stopped smiling, knowing clearly what was going on. His father was not only trying to save money but also to warn the ministers. Not to mention that his father hoped to have more ministers like Lord Zhou, he also hoped that as long as the court slowed down, the northeastern border issue could be completely resolved. His father founded the country, and he also had ambitions to expand the territory. Well, that was premised on him still being the crown prince and ascending the throne safely and securely.

In Lizhou City, Chen Chen was filled with emotion. He had never received such gifts from common people before. Although the amount he received was not as much as what Lord Zhou's family received, Chen Chen was still shocked.

Chen Chen sighed, "I have been an official for so many years, and I have been cautious and focused on climbing up the ladder. Only this year did I understand the meaning of the official robes on my body. I have lived for so many years in vain. I am completely convinced by Lord Zhou."

Hua Shi couldn't understand it so deeply. "Master, don't be sentimental. It's getting late. You should rest."

Chen Chen, ".......Yeah."

The next morning, the convoy from Lizhou City to the capital city set off, and Zhulan also received a letter from her hometown.

Zhou Laoer arranged everything for the house and also collected a lot of mushrooms and other mountain products.

After reading the letter, Zhulan counted the days. Based on the speed of the letter, Zhulan estimated that the second brother's family would arrive in half a month.

(End of this chapter)